January 2014

01/27/2014

Great-aunt Anna died from pneumonia when she was sixteen. They couldn’t cure it because her heart was broken and penicillin hadn’t yet been invented. It happened late one July afternoon. Anna’s younger sister, Bertha, ran howling into the garden and saw that with Anna’s rattling, dying breath all the red currants in the garden had turned white. It was a large garden; the scores of old currant bushes groaned under the heavy weight of the fruit. They should have been picked long before, but when Anna fell ill nobody gave a thought to the berries. My grandmother often told me this story, because it was she who had discovered the currants in mourning. Since that time there had only ever been black currants and white currants in my grandmother’s garden, and every attempt to plant a red bush had failed—only white berries would grow on the stems. But nobody minded: the white ones tasted almost as sweet as the red, when you juiced them they didn’t ruin your apron, and the jelly they made had a mysteriously pale translucent shimmer. “Preserved tears,” my grandmother called it. The shelves in her cellar still housed jars of all sizes with the currant jelly from 1981, a summer particularly rich in tears, Rosmarie’s final one. Once when my mother was looking for some pickled cucumbers she came across a jar from 1945: the first postwar tears. She donated it to the windmill association, and when I asked her why on earth she was giving away Granny’s wonderful jelly to a local museum she said that those tears were too bitter. My grandmother Bertha Lünschen, née Deelwater, died long after Great-Aunt Anna, but for many years she hadn’t known who her sister was, what her own name was, or whether it was winter or summer. She had forgotten what shoes, wool, or spoons were for. Over a decade she cast off her memories with the same fidgety ease with which she plucked at the short white locks of hair at the nape of her neck or swept invisible crumbs from the table. I had a clearer recollection of the noise the hard, dry skin of her hand made on the wooden kitchen table than of the features of her face. Also of the way her ringed fingers always closed tightly around the invisible crumbs, as if trying to catch the shadows of her spirit drifting by; but maybe Bertha just wanted to cover the floor with crumbs, or feed the sparrows that in early summer loved taking dust baths in the garden and were forever uprooting the radishes. The table she later had in the care home was plastic, and her hand fell silent. Before her memory went completely, Bertha remembered us in her will. My mother, Christa, inherited the land, Aunt Inga the stocks and shares, Aunt Harriet the money. I, the final descendant, inherited the house. The jewelry and furniture, the linen and the silver were to be divided up between my mother and aunts. Bertha’s will was as clear as springwater—and just as sobering. The stocks and shares were not particularly valuable, nobody except cows wanted to live on the pasture of the north German lowlands, there wasn’t much money left, and the house was old.

THE TASTE OF APPLE SEEDS is available now at Amazon | B&N | iTunes | IndieBound

01/26/2014

Dallas heiress Andrea “Andy” Kendricks never follows the rules. A debutante dropout, her carefree lifestyle is quite the opposite from her busy socialite mother’s. Nowadays, she designs websites while cuddling up alongside her handsome lawyer boyfriend, Brain Malone. When local society writer Janet Graham asks her to tag along on assignment to a “Pretty Party” featuring cosmetic dermatologist Dr. Sonja Madhavi, Andy halfheartedly agrees. While Botox and facial fillers are not her thing, the prospect of rubbing elbows with her former classmates sparks her interest.

As local newscaster Miranda DuBois crashes the party, all eyes are drawn to the gun-slinging beauty queen. The recipient of botched Botox injections by Dr. Sonja, her twitching eyelid and drooping mouth have ousted her from the airwaves. Threatening to seek revenge on the doctor of beauty, the intoxicated television star wields a gun. In an act of compassion, Andy whisks Miranda away as her friend Janet departs to report the tantalizing scoop. The next day, Miranda turns up dead in an apparent suicide with Andy being the last one to see her alive.

Too Pretty To Die is the fifth and final book in the highly popular Debutante Dropout Mystery series. A tongue-in-cheek look into Dallas society life, this mystery is a sassy read sprinkled with humor, intrigue, and romps of fun.

01/14/2014

As the holidays come to a close, we start to prepare for the next big thing…Valentine’s Day. Whether we are in a relationship or in search of Mr. /Ms. Right, this special celebration warrants our full attention. Plain and simple, we all want to be loved. Being able to find one person and commit to a long-term relationship filled with love and respect can seem like an overwhelming proposition. Yet when the stars align, the feeling of pure contentment is priceless.

This month’sJen’s JewelsMelody Carlson addresses this very topic in her latest release, Once Upon a Winter’s Heart. When Emma Burcelli’s grandfather, a true romantic, passes away, she moves back home to help her grandmother grieve. Upon her arrival, she is surprised to discover her parents’ relationship is at a crossroads. As she tries to play matchmaker, she soon realizes that perhaps it’s her own heart that needs to be mended.

As part of my interview, Center Street, a division of Hachette Book Group, has generously donated five copies for you to win in the trivia contest that follows the interview. Winners will be randomly drawn. Good luck! Be sure to keep up-to-date on all the latest news in the publishing business by stopping by www.jennifervido.com, follow me on Facebook jennifervido.com, or on Twitter and Pinterest @JenniferVido. And as always, thanks for making Jen’s Jewelsthe ultimate source for news on the hottest authors today.

01/10/2014

In the fourth book of The Tradd Street Series, Melanie Middleton faces her biggest personal and professional challenges yet. Despite being pregnant with Jack Trenholm’s child, she rejects his marriage proposal amid her family’s disappointment. Furthermore, the stress of work continues to build up as she frets over her expanding waistline. When the historic home she has inherited begins to wreak havoc on her dwindling budget, her fear ratchets up a notch. The final blow is delivered during the latest repair job when the remains of a newborn are discovered in the foundation. With this development the house’s spirits become unsettled and unruly.

Understandably, Melanie’s desire to uncover the truth behind the mysterious babe’s death consumes her every waking hour. After the spirits conjure up some violent tricks, she calls upon Jack for help. Melanie starts to question her decision to remain single when the close proximity between the exes stirs up suppressed romantic feelings. As the couple digs deeper into the Vanderhorst family’s past, the rightful ownership of the Tradd Street home comes into question. Even with Jack’s assistance, Melanie soon discovers only she can determine the path her life will take.

Return to Tradd Street beautifully captures the essence of the rich culture of historic Charleston through the familiar locales and area customs depicted in the novel. White’s poetic skill for storytelling evokes passionate tears of joy and sadness from the reader as the destiny of Melanie and Jack’s relationship finally unfolds. One of the most endearing plot lines in the story involves Melanie’s evolving relationship with her parents. With the power of forgiveness, the hardship of lost love, and the tenderness of kindred souls, this novel truly encompasses the best writing of White’s career.

01/06/2014

Two New York Times bestselling authors in one place! Tomorrow, Tuesday, January 7th, at 7:00 PM EST, Dorothea Benton Frank will be chatting with her friend and fellow author Mary Jane Clark on Facebook, asking questions about Mary Jane's upcoming mystery novel, That Old Black Magic. RSVP for the event on Mary Jane's Facebook page.

New to the Piper Donovan mysteries? You can start reading chapters one through three of That Old Black Magic by Mary Jane Clarknow. If you love what you read, you can pre-order a copy from your favorite retailer.

01/05/2014

As one of Seattle’s premier opera divas, Emily Hamilton lives for the sound of thunderous applause. If only she could translate the glory of her professional success to her floundering social life. On the heels of a messy break-up involving utter betrayal by her beau and supposed best friend, Emily is down on luck and love. With Valentine’s Day quickly approaching, the last thing she needs is a complicated relationship to distract her from her budding career.

When a slip on the ice lands Emily in the arms of professional football player Brandon McKenna, her life takes an unexpected turn. This bump on the head sends her straight to the emergency room escorted by an athletic hunk with a reputation for loving the ladies. When a mere act of kindness turns into a mistaken marriage proposal, Emily and Brandon secretly agree to take a chance on love. Tempting fate has never been Emily’s strong suit. Perhaps this coveted role might become the diva’s shining performance.

Blitzing Emily: A Love and Football Novel is a runaway hit filled with humor, love, and quirky fun. The touching relationship between Emily and Brandon make this read highly addictive, not to mention the way their chemistry heats up the storyline. The first in a three book series set in beautiful Seattle, this e-book debut makes even the toughest football critic an instantaneous fan of sexy, sporty romance.

01/03/2014

Happy New Year! Thanks for stopping by my site. Lots of fabulous releases are available this month to add to your reading list or download to your Kindle, iPad, or e-Reader.

In January, I am featuring some of your favorite authors such as James Patterson, Karen White, and Dick Wolf in my Top 5Contest.I also have nine bonus titles to share, including e-books! To enter, just send me an email with your picks. Don't forget to include your full mailing address. You can't win unless I know where to send your prize! (Offer void where prohibited.)

Tickets for the 2014 Jennifer Vido Author Dinner for Arthritis featuring New York Times bestselling author Charles Todd (mother/son writing team Caroline and Charles Todd) are on sale now! The event will take place on Friday, February 7, 2014 (snow date 2/21) from 6-9pm at Bellissimo's in Bel Air, MD. Tickets are $100 and include dinner and a Charles Todd book. This year's theme is the color red! Donations and sponsorships are now being accepted.

Calling all my author friends! If you have a new release coming out in 2014 and you would like for me to consider including it in my Top 5 contest, please send me an e-mail at least one month (preferably three) in advance. I am always on the look-out for hot, new releases. Debut authors are welcome, too!

Thanks for making www.JenniferVido.com the hottest blog on the web for new book releases. I wish everyone a happy and healthy New Year!